Former Prime Minister and Political Leader Arnhim Eustace has called it a day, politically. He thanked his supporters however for keeping their faith in him and the New Democratic Party.
It is still yet to be determined who the New Democratic Party’s candidate for the constituency of East Kingstown will be.
According to General Secretary of the political party Tyrone James, they were in the process of doing that.
Leader of the Opposition and President of the NDP told ANN that it was a democratic process and that a number of persons had expressed interest in becoming the next candidate for East Kingstown.
This latest development comes following the announcement by former Prime Minister and Political Leader of the NDP Arnhim Eustace last Sunday that he was not going to contest the next general elections.
While speaking at the NDP’s 41st Convention at the Arnos Vale playing field, Eustace first thanked the people of East Kingstown for their support.
“In the last five elections, of which I won all in east Kingstown, I feel that it is very important for me today, on a day like this in particular, to say to the people of East Kingstown – my people – I say to you that to me you are very dear, very important, I love the people of East Kingstown,” Eustace said.
He continued saying that the people of that constituency have demonstrated their commitment.
Eustace recollected that on two occasions – following the 2001 and 2005 General Elections that East Kingstown and Northern and Southern Grenadines were the only NDP Parliamentary Representatives.
“That is no easy feat you know; look at all the other constituencies, West St George, East St George all over and only East Kingstown had a seat.”
“We have to thank the people of east Kingstown for their faith in the new democratic party, their support for the new democratic party, when other have failed, they were always there,” he said.
According to Eustace, he owed the people of East Kingstown a lot of gratitude as they were the ones who taught him a lot about politics.
“Without you in politics, I would be nothing,” he said.
“And I want you to understand my appreciation for what you have done for the new democratic party and for the country.”
The people of East Kingstown are the ones who kept the NDP alive over a period of time, and the party was about to enter into a new period, but one where he will not be there.
He then announced that he had already informed his colleagues within the party that he was not going to be a candidate, however he still intends to host radio programs and give his support to the party where needed.
Before entering politics, Eustace worked in the civil service being assigned to the post of permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Shortly thereafter, he was recruited by Sir William Demas at the Caribbean Development Bank as an economist.
He was then assigned other authoritative positions including Director of Finance and Planning and Fiscal Advisor until his resignation from public office in 1998.
Eustace succeeded the leadership of the NDP and office of prime minister from then Prime Minister and Political Leader Sir James Mitchell on October 27, 2000.
The NDP then lost the March 2001 general elections to the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP), however Eustace remained as Parliamentary Representative for East Kingstown.
In 2016, Eustace stepped down as leader of the party handing over that role to Dr Godwin Friday.